Weapon

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Weapon set concept from GDC 2010 slideshow.

Weapons are a type of equipment that characters wield in combat. When equipped, they determine the first five skills on the skill bar. Like most equipment, weapons provide bonus attributes to the character through attribute combinations and upgrade components. There are a total of 19 different types of weapons, and each profession has access to a specific selection of them.

Each profession utilizes weapons differently, which enables a wide scope of playstyles. A warrior's use of the axe, for example, focuses on building adrenaline quickly and spiking for high amounts of damage, while the ranger uses axes as throwing hatchets for ranged attacks.

Mechanics[edit]

Equipping[edit]

Character weapons are divided into four primary categories based on how they are held:

  • Two-handed — requires both hands to wield it.
  • One-handed — can be wielded in either the main hand, the off hand, or one in each hand, depending on the profession.
  • Off-hand — can only be used in the off hand.
  • Aquatic — two-handed weapons that can only be used in underwater mode.

Every profession has three types of weapon slots:

Main hand The main hand slot can hold one one-handed weapon or a two-handed weapon.
Off hand The off hand slot can hold one off-hand weapon or, depending on the profession, a one-handed weapon, but can not be used when a two-handed weapon is equipped.
Aquatic weapon The aquatic weapon slot can hold one aquatic weapon.

All professions have two sets of weapon slots, each with a main hand and an off hand slot. Most professions also have two aquatic weapon slots, except for the elementalist and the engineer, who have only one slot.

Weapon swap[edit]

Primary article: Weapon swap

All professions have the ability to switch between the two weapon sets while in combat, with the exception of elementalist and engineer who can only weapon swap when out of combat. However, the elementalist's attunements give them the equivalent of four weapon sets to choose from, and the engineer has engineering kits which grant access to a wide range of additional skills.

It is possible to use partial sets of weapons, for example, equipping two weapons in one set, and only an off-hand weapon in a another set. In that case, only the skills from the off-hand weapon will be swapped when changing between sets. Various combinations of this method can be used to benefit from the effects triggered by the weapon swap while using fewer equipped weapons.

A weapon can be wielded or stowed, where it is visible on the back or hip of the character. Weapon is wielded automatically when the character enters combat, and is stowed after a short time when out of combat. It is possible to manually do this by using the "Stow/Draw Weapons" keybind in Control Options. Stowing away a weapon can be used to stop an action, e.g. an auto-attack chain, or cancel any skill from being cast during its activation time.

Upgrades[edit]

Sigils are the specialized upgrade components for weapons of the Masterwork rarity and higher, while universal upgrades can be used in all types of equipment. Ascended and Legendary weapons can also be upgraded with infusions.

Weapon strength[edit]

Primary article: Weapon Strength

All weapons have a range of weapon strength which, in combination with Power and the opponent's armor, affects the strike damage dealt with that weapon's skills. In addition, a weapon can provide up to 4 attribute bonuses (there are also items that provide small bonuses for 7 attributes) based on its prefix, and often includes a slot for an upgrade component.

The amount of weapon strength and attribute bonuses depend on the weapon's required level and rarity. Weapon strength is always the same for a given weapon type at a particular level and quality (for example, all masterwork shields with a level requirement of 35 have 279-314 weapon strength), but damage might still vary depending on which attributes the weapon improves (e.g. a weapon that improves power will end up dealing more damage than a weapon that improves toughness).

For the same level requirement, strength improves with the grade of weapon rarity.

Rarity Strength[note 1] Increase[note 2] Attributes[note 3] Increase[note 4]
Basic 551 – 609 n/a 72 Power, 52 Precision, 52 Ferocity n/a
Fine 690 – 762 25.17% 91 Power, 65 Precision, 65 Ferocity 25.57%
Masterwork 745 – 823 7.99% 98 Power, 70 Precision, 70 Ferocity 7.69%
Rare 802 – 886 7.65% 106 Power, 75 Precision, 75 Ferocity 7.56%
Exotic 905 – 1000 12.86% 120 Power, 85 Precision, 85 Ferocity 13.28%
Ascended 950 – 1050 4.99% 125 Power, 90 Precision, 90 Ferocity 5.17%
Legendary 950 – 1050 0% 125 Power, 90 Precision, 90 Ferocity 0%
Notes
  1. ^ Level 80 sword stats used for comparison.
  2. ^ Above prior rarity. Here calculated using the average of the strength minimum and maximum value. Result rounded to two digits.
  3. ^ While the attribute names shown here only match the Berserker attribute combination, the distibution of values applies to all one handed weapons with attribute combinations constituted of three attributes. Refer also to the table at Attribute combinations#Attribute bonuses at level 80.
  4. ^ Above prior rarity. Here calculated using the sum of the individual attribue values. Result rounded to two digits.

Acquisition[edit]

Weapons can be acquired in many different ways:

See also: Equipment acquisition by stats

Customization[edit]

Skins

Weapon skins can be transmuted to alter their original appearance in the Wardrobe. Weapons are classified in two categories depending on their skin:

  • Weapon sets: Collections of weapon skins that share visual characteristics and name patterns.
  • Standalone weapons: Weapon skins that aren't part of any weapon set.
Color

Weapons cannot be dyed.

Size

Weapons visually scale based on the size of the character wielding them, so the same weapon will be smaller for an asura compared to a norn. The scaling is proportional, so a large weapon will still seem relatively large when wielded by an asura.

Bundle[edit]

Bundles, such as a Boulder, also known as environmental weapons, are temporary weapons that can be obtained while adventuring. They are equipped by either picking them up off the ground or provided by an NPC. While equipped, they replace the weapon skills of the character with their own special abilities. Bundles are either one use only, have a time limit, or have a limited number of uses before they are destroyed. Bundles can be dropped either with the weapon swap button or their specific "Drop <Bundle>" key, which returns the character to the normal skill set.

Weapon usability by professions[edit]

Weapon Guardian icon small.png
Guardian
Revenant icon small.png
Revenant
Warrior icon small.png
Warrior
Engineer icon small.png
Engineer
Ranger icon small.png
Ranger
Thief icon small.png
Thief
Elementalist icon small.png
Elementalist
Mesmer icon small.png
Mesmer
Necromancer icon small.png
Necromancer

Users
One-handed Axe Firebrand icon small.png0No 0No1Yes 1Yes1Yes 0No0No 1Yes1Yes SotO icon small.png0No 0No0No Mirage icon small.png0No 1Yes0No 4+3 = 7
Dagger 0No0No 0No0No Spellbreaker icon small.pngSpellbreaker icon small.png 0No0No Soulbeast icon small.png1Yes 1Yes1Yes 1Yes1Yes Virtuoso icon small.png0No 1Yes1Yes 4+2 = 6
Mace 1Yes0No 1Yes0No 1Yes1Yes Mechanist icon small.png0No SotO icon small.pngSotO icon small.png 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 3+2 = 5
Pistol SotO icon small.pngSotO icon small.png 0No0No 0NoBladesworn icon small.png 1Yes1Yes 0No0No 1Yes1Yes SotO icon small.png0No 0No1Yes Harbinger icon small.png0No 3+4 = 7
Sword 1YesWillbender icon small.png 1Yes1Yes 1Yes1Yes Holosmith icon small.png0No 1Yes0No 1Yes0No Weaver icon small.png0No 1Yes1Yes SotO icon small.pngSotO icon small.png 6+3 = 9
Main hand only Scepter 1Yes0No SotO icon small.png0No 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No Specter icon small.png0No 1Yes0No 1Yes0No 1Yes0No 4+2 = 6
Off-hand only Focus 0No1Yes 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 0No1Yes 0No1Yes 0No1Yes 4
Shield 0No1Yes 0NoHerald icon small.png 0No1Yes 0No1Yes 0No0No 0No0No 0No0No 0NoChronomancer icon small.png 0No0No 3+2 = 5
Torch 0No1Yes 0No0No 0NoBerserker icon small.png 0No0No 0No1Yes 0No0No 0No0No 0No1Yes 0NoScourge icon small.png 3+2 = 5
Warhorn 0No0No 0No0No 0No1Yes 0No0No 0No1Yes 0No0No 0NoTempest icon small.png 0No0No 0No1Yes 3+1 = 4
Two-handed Greatsword 1Yes Vindicator icon small.png 1Yes 0No 1Yes 0No 0No 1Yes Reaper icon small.png 4+2 = 6
Hammer 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes Scrapper icon small.png Untamed icon small.png 0No Catalyst icon small.png 0No 0No 3+3 = 6
Longbow Dragonhunter icon small.png 0No 1Yes 0No 1Yes 0No 0No 0No 0No 2+1 = 3
Rifle 0No 0No 1Yes 1Yes 0No Deadeye icon small.png 0No SotO icon small.png 0No 2+2 = 4
Short bow 0No Renegade icon small.png 0No SotO icon small.png 1Yes 1Yes 0No 0No 0No 2+2 = 4
Staff 1Yes 1Yes SotO icon small.png 0No Druid icon small.png Daredevil icon small.png 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 5+3 = 8
Spear JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png JW icon small.png 0+9 = 9
Aquatic 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 0No 1Yes 1Yes 0No 1Yes 1Yes 7
Harpoon gun 0No 0No 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 0No 0No 0No 4
Trident 1Yes 1Yes 0No 0No 0No 0No 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 5
Number of usable weapons 11+4 = 15 7+5 = 12 11+6 = 16 4+5 = 9 10+4 = 14 6+5 = 11 5+5 = 10 9+5 = 14 8+5 = 13
Number of weapon skills 1 40+15 30+15 49+14(19) 17(52)+16 39+34(39) 37[40]+22(27)[29] 80(105)+95 34+22 30(39)+15(25)
Possible weapon combinations 2 14 (32) 8 (16) 21 (40) 4 (11) 13 (28) 9 (16) 6 (16) 12 (26) 12 (30)

See also[edit]

Gwwlogo.png The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Weapon.